With Twitter losing its status as an intermediary platform in India, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday categorically stated that if companies have to do business in India, then they have to obey the country’s Constitution and rules.
Prasad gave the example of violence at US Capitol, saying the Twitter account of then US President Donald Trump was blocked, adding that, however, during farmers' strike in India, Red Fort was raided by terrorist supporters showing naked swords, injuring policemen and pushing them in a ditch...then no action was taken and the comments were termed as freedom of speech.
"If Capitol Hill is US' pride, Red Fort is India's where the Prime Minister hoists the Tricolour. You (Twitter) show parts of Ladakh as China's part. It takes a fortnight for us (Centre) to pursue you to remove it. This isn't fair. As a democracy, India is equally entitled to safeguard its digital sovereignty."
In an exclsuive interview to ANI, Prasad said that India has a vibrant democracy and the central government welcomes criticism but 'non-compliance of law under the garb of freedom of speech and democracy is not acceptable'.
"Today there are 100 crores users of Twitter in India. I am happy. Let them earn money. Allow users to criticize us. Most welcome. But when these profit-making companies start lecturing us on democracy...."
"I would like to ask a question- India is a democracy because it's elections are fair. We won Assam and lost Bengal recently. We have I dependent judiciary that keeps us asking questions like in case of Covid. We are following. Media asks tough questions from a senior minister. That's what freedom of speech and democracy is about. These issues are important. But under garb of these you think you won't comply then it's a misplaced argument."
The Union Minister accused Twitter of "deliberately choosing the path of non-compliance."
Prasad said, "When Indian companies do business or pharma companies go to manufacture in the US, do they follow American laws or not? If you have to do business here, you're welcome to criticise PM and all of us..but one has to obey India's Constitution and rules."
Twitter lost its status as an intermediary platform in India for allegedly not fully complying with the new IT rules. Under the new IT rules, social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter are more accountable to legal requests for swift removal of posts and sharing details on the originators of messages.